TrulyGrace

Concert Weekend, December 2012

Last night (Saturday) Debbie and I went to the fifth annual "The Americas in Concert" featuring the Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra.  Pablo Ardiles is the conductor.  There were also guest soloists, Marco Sartor (guitar) and Lilly Abreu (soprano), who sent me the invitation.  The PYCO had collaborative guest performances with AquiTango and with Cello Fury!  The performance was at the Hillman Center for the Performing Arts at Shady Side Academy Upper School.
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The other concert I attended (after singing in choir at Mass, lunch, a nap and a snack) was this afternoon at Saint Paul Cathedral, "O Come All Ye Faithful."  The concert featured musicians from the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University, and was directed in large part by Christine Jordanoff, director of choral organizations.
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Last night's concert opened with the Andalucia Suite (Ernesto Lecuona), which allowed the young musicians to get comfortable with the space and the audience.  This was followed by the familiar

Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra (Joaquin Rodrigo), which showcased the playing of Marco Sartor as a setting showcases a brilliant gem.

Chega de Saudade (Jobim-Morales) was followed by Girl of Ipanema (Jobim-Morales), both sung by Lilly Abreu with the PYCO.  The Girl of Ipanema was sung appropriately sultrily.

AquiTango then joined the PYCO.  Due to a sound misconnection, they replayed
Por Una Cabeza (Gardel-Lepera), popularized in US culture as the tango Al Pacino and Gabrielle danced to in the film "Scent of a Woman."  The second rendition brought rousing applause.
They then played
Mi Buenos Aires Querido (Gardel-Lepera), arranged by the keyboardist, Tom Roberts.

Intermission
Danzon No. 2 (Arturo Marquez)

And two pieces written and orchestrated by Cello Fury:
Going Against All Odds (Ben Munoz)
Tundra (Simon J.C. Cummings)
The audience was taken by the power and fury of the cellos, as were the young musicians in the orchestra.

posted by Grace @ 12/02/2012 04:26:00 PM